TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 63 



REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERICAL FISHERIES 



The Honomhle Board of Fish aud (hiinc Commiss-ioinfH of lln Si, it, of 

 California. 



Gentlemen: In onr last biennial report the rapid aiul spertaciilar 

 OTOwth of California's fisheries was reviewed: of how California had 

 reached first place amongst the states in the size and value of its fish- 

 eries, with an annual catch of over 250.000,000 pounds and with a 

 wholesale value as fresh fish and manufactured pi-oducts. of ovei- 

 $25,000,000. The tuna and sardine industries which were responsible 

 for most of this increase were experiencing a healthy growth prior to 

 and during the early period of the great war. Upon our entry into 

 the war our fish packers responded to the government's eall for an 

 increased production of food by putting np an enormous pack of sar- 

 dines in pound oval cans. Many new canneries were built and nearly 

 all of those already in existence were enlarged. The pack of .sardines 

 in 1918 was about a million and a half cases, requiring a catch of 

 150.000,000 pounds of fish. Our fishermen made increased catches of 

 sardines without increasing their price and the canuers in turn were 

 able, through increased production, to sell to the people for even less 

 than before the war. As far as ^.ve know the only food product which 

 did not increase in price during the war was California sardines. Our 

 canners and fishermen are deserving of credit for that. 



Much of this great output of sardines, instead of going into con- 

 sumption in this country and especially in Europe as was intended, 

 was held by jobbers and others in this country for speculative purposes. 

 With the fall of prices in 1920 and the collapse of foreign exchange 

 our canned fish, instead of reaching foreign markets as was intended. 

 was left in this country. Our sardine packers were especially hard hit 

 for the reason that this country is as yet a rather poor market for sai-- 

 dines. Our packers of tuna suffered in the same way and all lost 

 heavily as they were compelled to sell the large stocks tiny had on 

 hand for less than the cost of packing. 



The past biennial period has been one of readjustment with our 

 fishing industries. It Avas dangerous to put up large packs during a 

 period of falling prices. It was necessary to dispose of the goods on 

 hand and to wait until the stocks hoarded by speculators had been l;iri:i'ly 

 consumed. 



Some of our canners have failed financially while most of them have 

 had a desperate struggle to weathei' the storm. The output of the 

 fisheries has naturally been much reducefl. Tiiis was expected. 'I'lie 

 present year of 1922 has been one of i-ather rajiid recovery and it imw 

 seems quite certain that much of the ground gained during the period 

 of expansion is going to be held, and that the industry will continue 

 on a much higher level of production than existed at the lieirinning of 

 the war. Until rates of exchange will permit them to again sell in 

 foreign countries our canners have turned their attention, with con- 

 siderable success, to enlarging the market of tuna and sardines in this 

 country. The demand for California canned tuna was the first to 

 revive and canners are endeavoring to pack all of these lisli tiiey can 



